Health minister would have preferred stricter coronavirus restrictions in run-up to Christmas

By PA News Agency

Stormont’s health minister has said he would have preferred stricter coronavirus restrictions in Northern Ireland in the run-up to Christmas.

Commenting on the ending of the circuit-break lockdown and the reopening of shops and much of the hospitality sector, Robin Swann said he had to accept that he operated in a five-party executive.

Mr Swann also predicted that Northern Ireland would need a further tightening of restrictions in January.

He said how strict those were depending on people’s actions in the coming weeks.

Asked by the PA news agency whether he was content with the level of restrictions in place from Friday, Robin Swann said: “From a health point of view of course we would have liked to have seen I suppose stricter.

“But you know we have to realise the time of the season we’re in and the fact that it is a five-party executive.

“But I am content that there’s enough guidance out there if people follow them – follow the rules and regulations that we have actually have set down – that we can keep this virus under control, we can stop the spread of Covid throughout our community in Northern Ireland.”

Asked if Northern Ireland would be facing another period of intensified restrictions in the new year, he replied: “I would say at this point in time, yes, we will be.

“But how severe and how strict that is will depend on people’s actions over the next two to three weeks.”

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said she was nervous about what Northern Ireland might be facing in January after the lifting of several coronavirus restrictions on Friday.

Ms O’Neill visited a contact tracing facility in Ballymena on Friday, along with First Minister Arlene Foster and Health Minister Robin Swann.

Asked by PA if she had concerns about the relaxations introduced on Friday and if she was nervous what those might mean for the region in January, she replied: “To be completely honest, I am.

“I think we’ve tried to find a balanced way forward throughout the whole of the pandemic. It remains the case today that we know that everything we’re doing comes with risk.

“But I think that the public have the capacity to try to keep this in check, to keep the virus in check by limiting our movements, all of us collectively limiting their movements, being careful, being safe, following the public health advice, we have the capacity to actually try and keep this virus in check.”

First minister Arlene Foster said she was concerned about the prospect of requiring further restrictions in January.

“Of course I’m concerned about that,” she told PA.

“And I’ve always said none of this is inevitable. It’s actually within people’s own hands.

“And I know that people like to get out and about at Christmas time and meet people and do the normal things.

“But, on this one occasion, we’re asking people to be really careful and try to keep safe.”